Erik's Random card 7/9/2011
Sometimes in development you find out the lead designer is super passionate about a card, and you try to not mess it up. This is one of those cards.
This character is a story character. Ken Nagle, the lead designer of Worldwake, made this card. He had a clear idea of what he wanted.
3UUB
Islandwalk, Swampwalk
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, you may exile target instant or sorcery card in that player's graveyard. If you do, copy it and you may play the copy with or without paying its mana cost.
5/8
Why with or without? Ken mildly preferred free, but he didn't want his card to be mangled in case free was absurd. So he was indicating "this part isn't important to me".
Mike Turian, the lead developer of Worldwake, did what Ken asked. He left the design as is, and chose the "free spell" option. If you want to see Ken talk about designing the card, you can see him here:
http://youtu.be/jAXHlboOdyw?t=17m33s
Posted By:
WotC_ErikL
(7/9/2011 12:35:24 AM)
What's that? You cast hex and the only card i have left on the battlefield is Wrexial? But Wrexial is from Soviet Russia, my friend...
Posted By:
divine_exodus
(5/10/2011 1:56:40 PM)
Works awesome in a Mill/Discard deck... Which is why I'm quite sure he costs blue and black. But in my opinion I like him best in his place in my Ula's Temple deck that runs four Stormtide Leviathans
Posted By:
Sir_Kaeru
(9/27/2010 7:56:17 PM)
@Mudbutt_on: Nah, you're thinking of Leviathans. Krakens are generally pretty cool, 'cept for the Polar variety.
@Ninjakraken: You can't pay X costs when you cast without paying...'setting' X to a certain amount would require paying a mana cost, which you obviously aren't doing.
Posted By:
ImpliedQuotient
(1/28/2011 6:16:45 AM)
Oh, hey. Nice Time Stretch ya got there. It'd be a shame if something...happened to it.
Posted By:
universe34
(6/30/2011 5:14:43 PM)
Cthulhu Has Risen! Too bad you can't steal fireballs. It's like they made this specifically for my swampwalk deck. I replaced Mahamoti Djinn with this guy.
Posted By:
blindthrall
(2/5/2010 9:19:07 PM)
Wrex can battle Goliath Sphinx and Sphinx of Jwar Isle for the finisher spot in U/B control decks. Despite the lack of shroud, his huge toughness and Black color puts him out of reach for just about all removal except path, o-ring, DOJ, and terminate. Plus, his ability is just sick. Free Memory Plunders for the rest of the soon-to-be-over game is very nice to have.
Posted By:
dgregory
(2/15/2010 3:46:57 AM)
Playing against a pure burn deck, I have found this card to be very hilarious. Even if the opponent doesn't have too many sorcery's or instants, the idea that it's islandwalk AND swampwalk is priceless. 5/5
Posted By:
ComradeZhukov
(3/6/2010 3:23:55 PM)
Instant OR Sorcey? I'm in love! EDH goon.
Posted By:
Pontiac
(4/6/2011 4:47:51 PM)